Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority Announces Final 20 Poets For Live Episodes Of Prince Of Poets Competition

The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority will announce the final 20 poets advancing to the live episodes of the Prince of Poets competition on Tuesday. This event, held every two years at Al Raha Beach Theatre, is a major platform for discovering poetic talent. The eleventh season's evaluation process has concluded, with submissions reviewed and assessed by the programme committee.

This year, over 1,000 poets from 33 countries applied, marking a record in diversity for the competition. This reflects the programme's expanding global influence in promoting Arabic poetry across continents. The wide geographic representation highlights its role in enhancing Arabic verse on an international level.

From October 28 to 30, 2024, 150 shortlisted poets met the jury at Al Raha Beach Theatre in Abu Dhabi. Through competitive tests, the committee selected the final 20 poets for December's live episodes. This rigorous process ensures only the best talents advance.

Submissions this year included entries from poets in 14 non-Arab countries, showing increasing international interest. Past seasons have seen participants from India, the US, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, and Nigeria. This trend underscores the competition's growing global appeal.

In its tenth season, a female poet won the title of Prince of Poets for the first time. Over ten seasons, 53 poets have reached top ranks, with female participants making up about 24% of total entries. This milestone highlights women's significant contributions to this prestigious event.

Since its inception, Prince of Poets has featured 245 poets from 25 countries over ten consecutive seasons. This showcases its commitment to celebrating diverse poetic voices and fostering cultural exchange through poetry.

The upcoming announcement of finalists marks another step in this journey of promoting Arabic poetry worldwide. As anticipation builds for December's live episodes, the competition continues to inspire and connect poets globally through their shared love for verse.

With inputs from WAM